Tape cassette hub retainers

ABSTRACT

A tape cassette hub retainer which may be used with different types of cartons, and which is adapted to engage and restrain the hubs of the cassette from movement during shipment. Small die cut flaps are located in a base panel directly beneath the cassette hubs and are foldable upwardly into a post configuration to engage the internal teeth in the hub of the cassette reels. An overlying support panel is provided having an opening through which the small flaps extend and which has a pair of side restraining flaps to hold the flaps from the base panel in upright position. In an alternate form, the overlying support panel is omitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to packages for storage and shipment oftape cassettes, and more particularly to packages which haveincorporated therein means for restraining the rotational movement ofthe reels within the tape cassette by engaging the hubs of the cassette.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The packaging of video and audio recording tapes in standardized plasticcassettes has become widespread throughout this country and has lead toa tremendous increase in their use due to their convenience since it isnot necessary to plysically handle the tape itself. The widespread useof portable tape players and automobile tape players has lead to thegrowth of sales of tape cassettes with prerecorded programs or songs onthem. During shipment and storage of tape cassettes it is essential thatthe cassette be protected since a small portion of the tape is exposedon one side, and since through vibration and small spools of tape insidethe cassette have a tendency to rotate unless restrained. If the tape isallowed to move and become loose and vibrate against itself, therecording quality is diminished and the tape may actually be damaged.

At the present time these tape cassettes are packaged in rigid plasticcases which have hinged lids and rigid plastic posts formed integrallythereon to engage the small spline in each of the hubs of the cassettereels to prevent rotational movement during shipping or storage. Theexpense associated with these individual rigid plastic containers isconsiderable, both because of fabrication costs, material costs andadditional weight in shipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A paperboard cassette support adapted to be incorporated into apaperboard carton, said support including small die cut flaps foldableoutwardly from the plane of the support to engage the internal teeth ofthe reels of the tape cassette. A second overlying panel has formedtherein an aperture through which these flaps are passed, and theoverlying panel has small restraining flaps to engage the flaps from thebottom panel and hold them in position when the tape cassette isremoved. In an alternate form, the overlying panel is omitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette showing the supportingposts extending through the hubs to hold the hubs from rotation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support before the cassette issupported thereon.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the blank from which the cassettesupport is formed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the supporting posts in erectedposition.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through one of the supporting posts, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the supporting posts engaged in a hub ofthe cassette.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of construction.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cassette container illustrated inFIG. 7 in closed position.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the container, the position of thissection being indicated by the line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the cassette lookingupwardly toward one of the supporting posts in one position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the post engaging theteeth of the hub in another position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another form of cassette container.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view, the position of the section be-indicated bythe line 13--13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of a blank used to support thecassette in the construction illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the blank used in forming thecontainer used for containing the cassette as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the cassette retaining post.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the post shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a plan view indicating the post of FIG. 17 engaged in the hubof a cassette.

FIG. 19 shows the container of FIGS. 12 and 13 with self-sustainingposts.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a cassette formed of one blank ofpaperboard.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view through the cassette of FIG. 20 in closedposition thereof.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the cassette ofFIGS. 20 and 21 is formed.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 20 showing a form of cassette.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the cassette of FIG. 23 in closedposition thereof.

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view of a partial blank from which thecassette of FIG. 23 and 24 is formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The tape cassette is constructed as is best illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings and is indicated in general by the letter A. The cassette isprovided along one edge 10 which is at right angles to the top andbottom surfaces such as 11 with windows 12 through which the tape 13 isexposed. Intermediate small windows 14 may be provided in the cassettecase edge 10 for use with different types of players.

The cassette hubs such as 15 are rotatably supported within the body ofthe cassette. These hubs 15 are provided with angularly spaced teeth 16which are engagable with suitable posts on the recorder or cassetteplayer for rotating the reels in one direction or another. A sightwindow 17 is provided between the hub apertures 19 in the walls 11 ofthe cassette container so that the peripheral edges of the rolls of tapemay be viewed. By looking through the sight window 17, the relativeamount of tape wound upon each of the hubs 15 may be noted, as obviouslyduring playing or recording the size of the roll of tape on one hubincreases while the size of the roll of tape on the other hub decreases.

The cassette holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings is designedfor insertion in an outer container such as a rectangular paperboardcontainer which may be provided with a hinged cover, an open side orend, or may be placed in a telescope container. The outer container isnot illustrated, but has the general appearance of the rectangularcontainer illustrated in FIG. 8. The support B is divided into a lowerpanel 20 and an upper panel 21 by a transverse fold line 22. The panels21 are preferably secured in face contact as shown in FIG. 2. A pair ofsupporting posts 23 are preferably die cut in spaced relation in thebottom panel 20, the posts 23 being spaced similarly to the hubs of thecassette A. The posts 23 include a trapezoidal center panel 24 which ishinged along its longer parallel edge 25 to the remainder of the panel20. The tapering or converging sides of the trapezoidal center portionare connected along fold lines 26 to side flaps 27 which are generallytrapezoidal in outline, three sides of the flaps being separated fromthe panel 20 along a generally J-shaped cut line 29, the ends of whichare connected to the ends of the fold line 25 by cut lines 29a. The post23 is designed to form generally a truncated frustum of a pyramid whenfolded out of the plane of the panel 20 in the manner indicated in FIGS.2 and 4 of the drawings.

The top panel 21 is die cut to provide two generally circular apertures30 which are designed to permit the post structures 23 to be insertedthrough the panel 21. Obviously the apertures 30 may be square, oval orotherwise shaped. Three triangular tabs or flaps 31, 32 and 33 arehingedly connected to the sheet 21 along angularly related fold lines34, 35 and 36 respectively. These tabs are of isosceles triangular shapewith the bases of the tabs connected to the sheet along the fold lines.The purpose of these tabs is to engage against the three sides of thetruncated pyramidal posts 23 in the elevated position thereof. FIGS. 4and 5, as well as FIG. 2, show the posts 23 in elevated position. Itwill be noted that the triangular tabs 32 and 33 bear against the sidewings such as 27 of the posts, while the intermediate triangular tab 31engages against the intermediate wall 24. The free edges 37, as well asthe junctures between the intermediate panel 24 and the side panels 27of the post act to engage between the teeth of the cassette hubs to holdthe same from rotation. As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings,corners 39 of the post sides 27 are notched and are designed to restupon the inwardly projecting ears 40 of the panel 21 so that the posts23 tend to remain erect once they have been erected into the positionshown. FIG. 6 of the drawings shows the manner in which the post extendsthrough the hub 15 of a cassette and engages one or more of the teeth 16on the inner surface of the hub.

FIGS. 7 through 18 of the drawings show structures having modified formsof posts which are not self-sustaining, and do not always remain inerected position when the posts are not engaged in the cassette A. Inthe construction shown in FIGS. 7 through 11, the cassette A is enclosedin a rectangular tray indicated in general by the numeral 41 whichincludes opposed parallel side walls 42 and opposed front and rear walls43 and 44 which extend upwardly from a bottom panel 45 indicated in FIG.9 of the drawings. As indicated in FIG. 7, a lid or cover 46 is hingedlyconnected to the rear wall 44 along a fold line 47. The lid 46 includesend walls 49 which are designed to enclose the end walls 42 of the tray,and a front wall 50 which is designed to overlay the front wall 43 ofthe tray. A panel 51 is foldably connected to the upper edge of thefront wall 43 of the tray along a fold line 52. Supporting posts 53 arecut from the panel 51 and include a trapezoidal intermediate section 54which is connected along converging fold lines such as 55 to side flapsor wings 56 having tapered edges 57 designed to engage within the hubs15 of the cassette between the teeth 16 thereof. In this construction,the posts 53 are formed into truncated frustums of pyramids as in theprevious construction.

The container is closed by first forming the posts 53 in right angularrelation to the panel 51, and by folding the panel 51 along the foldline 52 and inserting the posts 53 into the hubs 15 of the cassette.Alternatively, the panel 51 may be folded over the cassette and theposts 53 plunged into the hubs 15.

FIGS. 10 and 11 indicate bottom views of the cassette within thecontainer. FIG. 10 shows one position of a post 53 in which the sidewings or flaps 56 engage between a pair of teeth 15a extending inwardlyfrom the hub 15. FIG. 11 of the drawings shows a hub in a differentangular position and with the fold lines 55 connecting the centerportion 54 of the posts to the side wings 56 thereof engaging betweenthe teeth 15a. It will be seen that in either rotated position of thehub 15, the post 53 will engage the teeth 16 and prevent rotation of thehub within the cassette.

When the panel 51 is in position overlying the cassette A, the lid 46 isclosed, and the cassette holder C appears as indicated in FIG. 8 of thedrawings. In this position it is shipped or stored.

The structure D shown in FIGS. 12 through 18 of the drawings is formedof the blanks indicated in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings. The outercontainer 16 is formed of the blank indicated in FIG. 15. This blankincludes a bottom wall 61, a side wall 62, a top wall 63, and a secondside wall 64. A glue flap 65 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel61 along the fold line 66, and is designed to be secured in face contactwith the end wall 64 to complete the tubular carton.

Closure flaps 67, 69, 70 and 71 are connected to the walls 61, 62, 63and 64 respectively along a common fold line 72. Reinforcing panels 73and 74 are connected to the walls 61 and 63 along a common fold line 75.Generally oval shaped apertures 76 and 77 interupt the center portionsof the fold lines 75, and are designed to form finger notches 79 in theedges of the carton.

In forming the carton 60, the flaps or reinforcing flanges 73 and 74 arefolded along the fold lines 75 into contact with the bottom and toppanels 61 and 63 to which they are hinged and are preferably securedthereto. This provides reinforced open edges on the container. Theopposite side of the container is formed by folding inwardly the closureflaps 69 and 71, and then folding and securing the closure flaps 67 and70 into overlapping relation to form a closure for the rear of thecarton.

FIG. 14 of the drawings shows the blank used for retaining the cassetteswhich may be used with conjunction with the outer container 60. Theblank 80 includes a bottom panel 81 hingedly connected along parallelfold lines 82 and 83 to a rear wall 84 and a front wall 85. The rearwall 84 is connected along the fold line 86 to a top flange 87. Thefront wall 85 is connected along the fold line 89 to a tuck flap 90.Cassette retaining posts 91 are formed in the bottom panel 81 in properspaced relation to engage into the hubs 15 of the cassette A. Asindicated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the posts 91 each include a innertrapezoidal panel 92 connected along its longer parallel edge 93 to theremainder of the panel 91. The converging sides of the trapezoidal panel92 are connected along the fold lines 94 to side flaps or wings 95having cut edges 96 which engage the teeth 16 of the hub 15. All but theflaps forming the post are cut from the panel 81 by a generally U-shapedcut line 97. As a result, the posts 91 may be erected into position toextend into the hubs of the cassette, the trapezoidal flap or panel 92inclining upwardly, and the flaps or wings 95 being folded inwardly toextend into the aperture in the hub. As indicated, the edges of theflaps or wings 95 engage the teeth 16 of the hub 15 as shown in FIG. 18.

In operation, the cassette A is placed upon the panel 81 with the posts91 extending into the hubs 15 as indicated in FIG. 12. The rear andfront walls 84 and 85 are folded up on opposite sides of the cassette A,and the flange 87 and tuck flap 90 are folded over the top of thecassette. In this position, the cassette is inserted into the hollowsided container 60.

When the cassette is pulled out from the container, the front wall 85and tuck flap 90 are folded forwardly as indicated in FIG. 12 of thedrawings and used to pull the cassette A forwardly. The flange 87attached to the rear wall 84 engages the edge of the inwardly foldedflange 74 secured beneath the top panel 63, and limits the outwardmovement of the blank 80 from the container 60. The cassette A may belifted and drawn forwardly to remove the cassette from the package.

If desired, self-sustaining posts 96 may be used to engage the hubs ofthe cassette, the posts being similar to the posts 23 shown in FIGS. 4and 5 of the drawings. This is accomplished by securing an upper panel97 in face contact with the panel 81, and extending the posts 96 throughsuitable apertures 99 formed in the upper layer of the two-thicknesspanel as indicated in FIG. 19. Triangular supporting flaps or tabs 100may be used to assist in holding the posts 96 in their erected form.

FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 show a modified construction in which the outercontainer is integral with the panels which hold the tape cassette. Asindicated in FIG. 22, the outer container includes a bottom panel 101hingedly connected along a fold line 102 to a front wall 103. The upperedge of the front wall 103 is connected by a fold line 104 to a frontwall liner panel 105 which in turn is connected along a fold line 106 toa bottom liner panel 107.

The sides of the bottom panel 101 are connected along right angularlyextended fold lines 109 to outer side walls 110 which in turn areconnected along parallel fold lines 111 to side wall lining panels 112.Corner flaps 113 are hingedly connected to the ends of the front wall103 along extensions of the fold line 109, and are folded between theside walls 110 and the side wall liner panels 112.

The bottom panel 101 is connected by a fold line 114 to a rear wallpanel 115 which in turn is connected along a fold line 116 to the toppanel 117. An outer front wall 119 is connected to the top panel 117along the fold line 120, and a front wall liner panel 121 is connectedto the front wall 119 along the fold line 122.

Side walls 123 are connected to the sides of the top wall 117 along foldlines 124, and side wall liner panels 125 are connected to the edges ofthe side walls 123 along the fold line 126. Corner flaps 127 arefoldably connected to the sides of the front wall 119 and are foldedbetween the side walls 123 and the side wall liner panels 125. Gussettedcorner flaps 129 connect the side walls 110 of the bottom panel to theside walls 123 of the top panel 117.

It will be noted that the bottom panel 101 is provided with a series ofthree panels forming posts 130 which may be pushed through the apertures131 in the overlying panel 107 to provide reinforcing flaps similar tothose shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, and as shown in FIG. 19.These posts are designed to engage the hubs 15 of the cassette A whenthe edge 10 of the cassette is located along the front wall 103. In viewof the fact that the posts 130 have already been described in detail,there appears to be no need for further explaining the construction.

As will be seen from FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, the cassette is a one-piececonstruction showing both the posts for accommodating the cassette hubs,and also comprising a complete enclosure. The container and cassetteholder is indicated in general by the letter E for identification. Ifthe openings in the bottom panel 101 are found to be objectionable,cassette identifying labels are secured to the undersurfaces of thesepanels 101 which conceals the two apertures.

In FIGS. 23, 24 and 25, a tape cassette holder and container is shownand identified in general by the letter F. The container and holder F isidentical as that shown in FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 except for the positionof the posts. In this latter construction, the posts are arranged sothat the edge 10 of the cassette faces the rear of the container ratherthan the front wall as in FIG. 20. In view of this fact, similaridentifying numerals have been applied to this structure F, the numeralsbeing followed by the letter a.

As will be noted from a comparison of FIGS. 20 and 23, the cassette Ahas its edge 10 through which the tape is exposed facing rearwardlytoward the rear wall 115a in FIG. 23 rather than forwardly toward thefront wall as in FIG. 20. In other respects, the two structures areidentical. Both structures are shown because some producers of tapecassettes like the cassettes arranged one way in the cassette holderwhile others like it in the other way.

In accordance with the Patent Statues, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in TAPE CASSETTE HUBRETAINERS; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:
 1. A tape cassette hub retainer adapted to be made fromfoldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material and used inconjunction with a cassette shipping and storage container, said hubretainer comprising:a flat base panel; at least one die cut, hinged postmeans formed in said base panel and spaced in said base panel tounderlie at least one of the hubs in a tape cassette, said post meansfoldable outwardly from the plane of said base panel for engaging andretaining said hub of said tape cassette when in said container; saidpost means comprising a generally rectangular shape having threesections formed as a part thereof including a center section ofgenerally triangular shape having as its base a hinge line connectingsaid post means to said base panel; and said three sections including aside flap hingedly connected to each of the remaining sides of saidcenter section, said three sections folded outwardly from the plane ofsaid base panel into at least a frustrum of a pyramid to engage andretain said hub of said tape cassette when in said container.
 2. The hubretainer of claim 1, including a supporting panel overlying said basepanel, said supporting panel having die cut therein an openingjuxtaposed over each of said tab means and through which each of saidtab means are projected by folding to be in position for engaging thehubs of said tape cassette.
 3. The hub retainer of claim 2, furtherincluding side restraining flaps formed in said supporting paneladjacent said opening to frictionally engage said tab means when foldedthrough said opening in said support section.